Retired taximan, 80, grappled attacker with knife

After being slashed on the forehead with a knife an 80-year-old retired taximan, recovering from heart by-pass surgery, took on his attacker knocking him to the ground, a court heard.

Ian Murrihy, aged 26, of O’Callaghan Avenue, Kileely, Limerick, has pleaded not guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to a charge of attempting to rob Brendan Beacom.

Mr Beacom recalled that following heart surgery he went out for evening walks.

After parking his car near St Michael’s Boat Club at around 8pm on May 14, 2014, he commenced walking at Cleeves Bank.

Two men approached and one stopped him and demanded: “Give me what you have”, before pulling a knife.

He struck him over the eye with the knife, cutting his forehead.

Mr Beacom grappled with his attacker and they both fell to the ground.

When he stood up, both men ran off Mr Beacom got help and was taken to hospital.

Samantha Ryan said she was near St Michael’s Rowing Club when meeting a man ‘destroyed in blood’.

He asked her if she had a phone and to call the gardaí and an ambulance. The man was shaking and very distressed.

Aaron Bourke, a half brother of the accused, said they were walking on the Clare side of Shannon Bridge going towards the city. They met an old man and Mr Murrihy asked him for what he had. His brother then hit the old man, knocking him to the ground.

He told his brother ‘come on’ and they left the area.

Garda Brian Jackman said he was off duty in a car travelling across Shannon Bridge at around 8.30pm when he saw two men jumping over a wooden fence on the Clare side of the bridge. They were highly agitated. One took off his jacket and threw it back in over the fence.

The two then walked quickly over Shannon Bridge in the direction of the city. He phoned Henry Street station and reported the two men he had seen.

The trialcontinues.